The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of providing immediate access to the influenza vaccination for patients seen in a pediatric hand surgery clinic. Our research hypothesis was that providing access would increase the rate of vaccination.

Methods

This pilot study was a block randomized, controlled, prospective clinical trial that included all patients seen by a single surgeon, on a single day each week, in a hospital-based pediatric hand surgery practice clinic from October 18, 2016 to March 14, 2017. All patients between 6 months and 18 years of age seen during their initial visit during the study period were included.

All patients were questioned on their vaccine status. For the intervention group, the influenza vaccine was offered. If requested, after providing educational materials, written consent from the parent or guardian was obtained. The vaccine was given by the registered nurse ordinarily assigned to the clinic. Demographic information, vaccine status for both groups at the end of clinic, including the date of receiving the vaccine, was recorded.

Statistical analysis was performed with the t-test for age, and the Chi-square for proportions.

Results

Similar proportions of patients received the vaccine prior to being seen in clinic. In the intervention group, 80 children (67%) had received the vaccine by the end of clinic, compared to 29 (25%) in the control group. Patients that were offered the vaccine had a statistically significant higher vaccination rate (odds ratio = 5.9, P<.001). Of the 80 patients in the intervention group that received the vaccine, 47 (59%) received it in the hand clinic.

Conclusions

This pilot project demonstrated that offering the influenza vaccine in a non-traditional setting, an outpatient hand surgery clinic, increased the proportion of patients receiving the vaccine.